Video: Winter biking in Copenhagen

Copenhagenize posts a video of cyclists in the cold and snow in Copenhagen this month. Note the bikeway snowplows in the video.

Worth mentioning – because I’ve been asked the question a few times of late – that we don’t used studded tires or any other gadgest or gizmos or extra gear in the snow. Just the same squeaky, wobbly and half-flat tires as the rest of the year.

People just slow down. Simple as that. Riding straight in snow is hardly a challenge unless you’re on super skinny racy tires – which you’re not in the snow, duh – and on corners you just take it easy.

Just slow down would be good advice to drivers around here too.

What always strikes me about video from Copenhagen or Amsterdam is that no one seems to wear bike helmets. That’s madness to me, especially in the snow.

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Jef Nickerson

Jef is Greater City Providence's co-founder, editor, and publisher. He grew up on Cape Cod and lived in Boston; Portland, Maine; and New York before settling in Providence. In addition to urbanism, Jef is interested in art, design, and ice cream. Please feel free to contact Jef if you have any question or comments about Greater City Providence.

Comments

The lack of helmets is easy to understand once you know that cheap European bikes don’t have brakes, either. 😉

Seriously, most western european bike paths are between the parking strip and the sidewalk. Interactions with cars are rare, while interactions with peds are constant. That means cycling is just slower, all the time.

The Dutch say that their “design” cyclist — the one they have in mind when they design infrastructure — is a 60 year old woman with two bags of groceries. She doesn’t wear a helmet either, but nor does she go more than 15 mph.